please take a look at this video on youtube about a japanese bladesmith. my question is, what are these sledge hammers called? i want to make some, but i dont want to look stupid and not know what there called .

heres the link to the video. you might just want to fast forward a bit.

YouTube - Making authentic Katana with Japan's most famous swordsmith ????

Please reply as this is driving me crazy!!

Genno, maybe

My first thought is to use a splitting wedge and modify it for a small hammer at least.

Of course that style of hammer was common over 100 years ago in Sheffield England when they were used by the cutlers there; they were called a steady hammer as I recall.

That style of hammer was known in the USA till recently for saw tuning.

I always found it odd that folks will get real excited over japanese stuff when the same thing was common in their own cultures in the past.

Thanks guys =D

Of course that style of hammer was common over 100 years ago in Sheffield England when they were used by the cutlers there; they were called a steady hammer as I recall.

That style of hammer was known in the USA till recently for saw tuning.

I always found it odd that folks will get real excited over japanese stuff when the same thing was common in their own cultures in the past.

Ya i guess rofl, but people dont do research about there own culture, they like to study about different cultures lol. or atleast i wouldnt. i really hope when i try to make one of these it goes well :p

I've heard them called "dog head hammers" and "cutler's hammers"

I also have heard that type of hammer called a "dog head" hammer. I have never used one. But it looks a little awkward to me.

I bought a Japanese blacksmith hammer(Kajiya Tsuchi) a few years ago, and it is one of my absolute favourites. The head only weighs 750 grams (~1,65 pounds), but it moves metal like a "standard" hammer twice the weight! The balance is awesome too, and the face still looks newly polished even after some heavy use. The only downside I have discovered with it so far is the price, corresponding about 120 U.S. Dollars.



It may look strange, but it feels great to work with. I bought it from a German supplier of high quality tools :Dick GmBH - Fine Tools

You may be surprised at how many Westerners make hammers of any shape - Blacksmiths make their own tools - hammers included. I have made a few hammers and use them. I also have boughten a few too. JK

I've made a couple hammers like that design. Like anything else, once you get used to it, they work just fine. Any hammer maker can make what you want if you have the shape/style in mind.

The Japanese hand hammer is different than the Japanese sledge hammer in that it is not as "head heavy." The sledge is proportionately longer in the head when compared to the hand hammer. It is long because the anvils are buried in the ground and are lower than Westerners' anvils. I have two Japanese hand hammers, and they have rectangular eyes. The hafts are rectangular at the eye end and fade into an oval for the hand grip. The eyes are canted, so that the haft enters at a slight angle. If a medial line is drawn through the hammer head, the haft would make a bit of an acute angle with that line. The faces are round.
The poll is not used for striking, just the face. When you pick one up to use it, there is no mistaking which way to hold it.

http://www.turleyforge.com Granddaddy of Blacksmith Schools

I would call them awkward hammers, or maybe accidents waiting to happen, but I have no clue what the technical term is. That is not to take anything away from their skill in using them.

Anvillain

I would call them awkward hammers, or maybe accidents waiting to happen, but I have no clue what the technical term is. That is not to take anything away from their skill in using them.

Anvillain

Some days getting out of bed is an awkward accident waiting to happen.

I suspect the hammer shape was in part an evolution of the tool to the work environment. The tool changed to better suit the workstation and the thickness of material being worked.

This style of hammer was used by cutlers and saw makers in the west, and sit down smiths in the east. The thin stock on an anvil that more than one smith used could influence the desire to have a longer hammer head, and the different body position of sitting, and striking at a low anvil would necessitate adjustments too.

But this is speculation and should be taken as such.

Phil

I would call them awkward hammers, or maybe accidents waiting to happen, but I have no clue what the technical term is.

And why could you call them that? Have you ever even used one?

Hello,
When i was appenticed to a swordmaker in japan, he didn't call his sledgehammers of hand hammers anything special, just "big hammer" or "small hammer". they are fairly easy to make, and very useful for forging blades. traditionally, a steel face is forge-welded to a soft body, but nowadays they are mostly all steel. feel free to email me at [email protected] or stop by the shop (portland, n. columbia blvd )if you want to have a look at them.

cheers,

arnon

please take a look at this video on youtube about a japanese bladesmith. my question is, what are these sledge hammers called? i want to make some, but i dont want to look stupid and not know what there called .


heres the link to the video. you might just want to fast forward a bit.


YouTube - Making authentic Katana with Japan's most famous swordsmith ????


Please reply as this is driving me crazy!!

Portland Maine, Oregon, Australia? doesn't narrow it down much!

That would be Maine,with an E.

One thing to remember with any traditional Japanese tool. They tend to do all work sitting on the floor as opposed to westerners who stand or sit at a workbench. Their tools work fine for them and their way of working. You may find them awkward unless you too decide to sit your anvil and yourself on the shop floor.

It'll be great for those mornings when you can't get up off of the floor!

Japanese Blacksmithing Hammers (Kajiya Tsuchi)
http://www.dick.biz/dick/product/714015/detail.jsf;jsessionid=83EE550A6AF379151B2DE4E87612785E

Japanese Blacksmithing Hammers (Kajiya Tsuchi)
http://www.dick.biz/...B2DE4E87612785E

NICE! But 70 euros puts it out of my reach right now. We invested in real estate!